MX GP: Cairoli, Herlings Keep Win Streak Alive In Latvia

It’s beginning to sound like a broken record as Red Bull KTM teamsters Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings took top honors at the FIM World Championship Motocross rounds in Kegum, Latvia, July 7. Cairoli traded moto wins in the MX1 class with teammate Ken de Dycker, while Herlings won both MX2 motos, which he has done pretty much all year.

Cairoli was content following De Dycker to the checkered flag in the first moto, wanting to save his energy for the tie-breaking second moto. (Cairoli suffered a knee injury a few weeks back and has curtailed his midweek training as a result.) The plan paid off as he led from start to finish in the second moto to claim the overall victory.

De Dycker finished second in the moto for second overall, while Rockstar Suzuki’s Clement Desalle went 3-3 for third overall.

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Gautier Paulin and Jeremy Van Horebeek rounded out the top five overall.

Herlings dominated both MX2 motos. The Dutch rider finished 40 seconds ahead of KTM riders Jose Butron in the first moto and 50 seconds ahead of Jordi Tixier in the second moto. The win was Herlings 27th career Grand Prix victory for the 18 year old.

Butron ended up second overall with a 2-3 and Tixier captured third overall with a 4-2.

Herlings has a commanding 139-point lead in the MX2 Championship over Tixier. Butron is 50 points in back of Tixier.